Yashjeet Singh, a sixth-grader at the Robert W. Carbonaro School, learned CPR basics from Jessica Prestifilippo of Heartstart Training on Nov. 15.

Students said they learned a lot from the program at Carbonaro last week. Kyle Barry said it is important to stay calm and avoid panicking. “Someone could be choking or someone could be passed out,” he said, “and you’d have to know what to do.”

Tai Spigner said he learned how to perform CPR for the first time. With chest compressions, it’s important to push hard and push fast, he explained. That pumps air into the brain which can help a person regain consciousness.

Spigner said while he hopes he never has to use CPR, he now knows what to do. “The day something like this could happen, you’re prepared,” he said.

Egre said that only about one in five people in a community know basic CPR. At the school, she has to be trained as a phys. ed. teacher along with the nurse, custodians and administrators. All of their training, she explained, is far more extensive and they must be re-certified every two years.

Although the children only learned a fraction of what she knows, Egre said it is enough to make a difference. “I want them to learn the real basics, to keep someone alive as long as they can,” she said. “Every student can learn this.”